Krizz Kaliko

Biography

Samuel William Christopher Watson (born March 7, 1974), better known by his stage name Krizz Kaliko, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and voice actor. He is a longtime collaborator with fellow hometown native Tech N9ne and was signed to Strange Music from its inception in 1999 up to forming his own label Ear House Inc. in 2021.
Krizz Kaliko has released seven studio albums and has collaborated with other artists such as Snow tha Product, E-40, T-Pain, Twista, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Jelly Roll, Chamillionaire, Snoop Dogg, 8Ball & MJG, Kendrick Lamar, and Ice Cube.

Career

Krizz Kaliko began his musical career in the late 1990s when he began working with local producer IcyRoc Kraven. Another local rapper by the name of Tech N9ne was also collaborating with IcyRoc at the time, which led to the two rappers meeting. At the time, Tech N9ne was working on a song titled "Who You Came To See" and Kaliko made a comment that the song could have a better hook. Tech offered up the opportunity to prove his case, and Tech was blown away when Kaliko did. Tech would bring Kaliko into his "inner circle", which would eventually result in Kaliko signing to the new-found label Strange Music co-owned by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin.
Since then, Kaliko has often contributed to albums put out by Tech N9ne, be it being featured as a rapper or simply providing background vocals for tracks on the album. Although most of his work is that of his collaborations with Tech N9ne, he has also performed similar tasks for former labelmates Kutt Calhoun, Rittz, and fellow labelmates Skatterman & Snug Brim, Ces Cru, and Prozak. Other collaborations include tracks with the Kottonmouth Kings, Potluck, E-40, T-Pain, Twiztid, Andy Mineo, Chris B, and RM from South Korean group BTS .
His debut album, Vitiligo×Vitiligo6 May 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1The Ride (skit)1:082Anxiety4:003Vitiligo2:164What's Sizzlin'3:425Do It Like I Do It3:576Jungle Love4:207Do Sum'n4:378The Bidness3:539The Tunnel (skit)0:1010Peek-A-Boo3:4211Crew Cut4:3812Aintcha Bitch3:0613Slow Down5:2714Rewind4:3515Beautiful You Are3:0216Let's Dip3:4017Collect3:5018Saucy4:1019If I Ever Go4:2920The Ride II (skit)0:2321Where You Want Me3:44, released on May 6, 2008, charted on several Billboard charts, including peaking at number 19 on the Top Independent Albums in the week of May 28, 2008. In the same week, he peaked at number 167 on the Billboard 200.
His second studio album, Genius×Genius14 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Intro0:182Chip on My Shoulder2:123Genius2:534Back Pack3:385Doe Doe4:306Get Off3:597Butt Naked Fun2:538Getcha Life Right4:409Love You 2 Death4:0010Misunderstood2:4911Bipolar4:0312Dead Wrong2:2613So High3:1014The Chemical2:3915She'll Do3:1816Be Right Back3:5317Hum Drum2:4518Happy Birthday4:2219Choir Boy2:3520Outro0:26, was released on July 14, 2009.
A number of his songs can be heard in the background of the strip club scenes in the movie Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt.
Kaliko chose the title Shock Treatment for his third studio album. Other titles he considered were Son of Sam and Walk on Water.
S.I.C., his first EP, was released on May 17, 2011. In June 2011, he was featured on Winnipeg's Most's second single, "Forgive Me", from their second album, GoodFellaz.
On May 15, 2012, Kaliko released his fourth studio album, titled Kickin' and Screamin'. It is currently his highest charting album on the Billboard 200. The album has features from long-time collaborator Tech N9ne, as well as rappers Twista, Chamillionaire, T-Pain, Twiztid and Rittz, while the production is almost entirely handled by Seven.
In November, Kaliko released his second EP, Neh'mind×Neh'Mind27 November 2012 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Knock Ya Wig3:272Damage2:493Way Out3:284Gumbo3:585Get Throw'd4:376Strange5:117Proof of God4:01. The song "Damage" featuring Snow Tha Product was made the lead single. A video for "Damage" was shot and released on YouTube on December 14, and received over 100,000 views in two weeks.
On August 27, 2013, Kaliko released his fifth album, Son of Sam×Son of Sam27 August 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Intro1:052Titties3:493W.A.N.S. (We All Need Sex)2:434The Finger3:155Reckless4:106Girls Like That3:187Schizophrenia3:318Do You Drink3:189Inside3:3110Kill for Your Lovin’3:3511Send Your Love3:1512Night Time2:5613Why Me4:0014Why So Serious4:3615Scars4:1116Thank God3:41. It features guest appearances from Tech N9ne, CES Cru, Kortney Leveringston, IcyRoc Kravyn, and his wife Crystal Watson. The album debuted at number 56 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 8,000 copies in the United States.
On April 8, 2016, Kaliko released his sixth studio album, GO. Unlike his previous albums, which were predominantly hip-hop, GO is his first R&B/pop album. The album features labelmates Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone, Rittz, CES Cru, Wrekonize and JL B.Hood. It went on to chart as the number 4 Rap album on Billboard and number 28 in the Top 200.

On October 6, 2019, Kaliko announced his intention to leave Strange Music on social media. On October 20, 2019, however, he appeared to have a change of heart, signing a new contract with Strange Music on stage.
On September 18, 2020, Kaliko returned with his seventh album, Legend×Legend18 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1213:402Little3:103The Recipe3:104S.O.B.3:365Get Chose3:086Borrowed Time2:467Bitches I Know3:318Follow the Drip3:319What Do You Mean?1:5210You2:4211Drunk White Girls2:3112Let You Tell It3:1013Amen2:1414Didn't Need Woes2:5415Foolish2:4716Avoiding Mirrors4:2817Mad2:4618Coloring Book2:45, his first project in four years.
On May 15, 2021, it was announced during Kaliko's virtual concert event "The Reveal" that he had officially left Strange Music to form his own label Ear House Inc. with his wife Crystal.
In 2022, Kaliko collaborated with few smaller indie artists by the name of Anthony Boggs and Messy The Man with their song "Loud Child".
Kaliko voiced Dinobot in the third chapter of Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy, released on July 29, 2021, as well as Leroy Smith in the English dub of Tekken: Bloodline, which released on August 18, 2022.

Personal life

Kaliko is afflicted with an autoimmune form of vitiligo, a skin condition characterized by smooth, white patches on various parts of the body, caused by the loss of natural pigment. Several of these patches are clearly visible on his face. He used the name of the disease as the title for his debut album.
Kaliko has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He named a track on his second album after the disorder.